Rachael Stoeltje Leads Preservation Efforts at the Library of Congress

Rachael Stoeltje is the newly appointed chief of the Library of Congress’s National Audio-Visual Conservation Center (NAVCC), which includes the Packard Campus in Culpeper, Virginia. Her role centers on overseeing the largest collection of motion picture film, television, and recorded sound in the world, encompassing approximately 10.8 million items, including the National Film Registry .

A Focus on Preservation

Stoeltje began her tenure at the Library of Congress in January 2025. Prior to this, she served as the director of the Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive since 2010, where she oversaw the university’s Mass Digitization and Preservation Initiative for motion picture film .

Leadership in the Archival Field

Stoeltje is actively involved in the broader archival community. She is the outgoing president of the Association of Moving Image Archivists, where she organized global symposia, an annual conference, and initiatives to promote diversity within the field . She is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of audiovisual preservation professionals through mentorship and professional association involvement.

Addressing Contemporary Challenges

Stoeltje is currently addressing critical challenges facing archives today, including the fragility and lack of standardization of born-digital media, the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on the authenticity and historical integrity of archival media, and the environmental impacts on global archives . Her research interests include film history, media preservation, and training and outreach for global education.

National Film Registry and Cultural Impact

As chief of the NAVCC, Stoeltje plays a key role in the National Film Registry, which annually names 25 movies that represent the range and diversity of American filmmaking and reflect the nation’s history and culture . She appeared on WBUR’s On Point on February 16, 2026, to discuss the registry and its significance .

Rachael Stoeltje maintains an active presence on LinkedIn, with over 500 professional connections .